The Tennessee Vols' 2024 season was special. There's no debating that. Tennessee won 10 games for just the second time since 2007 while beating top rivals Florida and Alabama. Add in an emotional road win against Oklahoma -- which was head coach Josh Heupel's first game back in Norman since he was fired by his alma mater a decade ago -- and it's hard not to be thrilled with the way the season went for the Vols if you're a Tennessee fan.

Either Marcus Freeman or James Franklin will become the first Black head coach to make an FBS national championship game, and other story lines to watch.

No. 8 Ohio State will play No. 9 Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Here are early bracket predictions for the matchup.